The Santa Monica High School boys soccer team concluded its most successful season in program history this month, capturing the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship before bowing out of the state regional playoffs with a 2-0 loss to Mater Dei on March 3.
The Vikings finished with a 19-3-3 record and an 8-1 mark in Ocean League play, capping the campaign with a dominant 4-1 victory over Fontana in the Division 1 final on Feb. 28. The title was the program's third CIF championship.
"Winning the Division 1 playoffs was a testament to the hard work and dedication of both our seniors and underclassmen throughout the year," head coach Chris Sandoval said. "It meant everything to the boys, and to win it playing our style of soccer was the icing on the cake."
The championship match showcased the Vikings' offensive firepower. Nathan Shlepp opened the scoring in the 30th minute, and Joaquin Castro added a second goal on a volley with five minutes remaining in the first half. After Fontana cut the deficit to 2-1, forward Adrien Gonzalez answered to put the match out of reach.
The road to the title was far from easy. Samo navigated a tense first-round match against Montclair that required penalty kicks to decide. After battling through two scoreless overtime periods, the Vikings prevailed 4-3 in the shootout, with goalkeeper Colton Miller making a crucial save.
The Vikings overcame early nerves to secure the win.
The quarterfinal victory over Servite, ranked 10th in California, proved to be a turning point. The Vikings secured a 1-0 win in a physical contest against one of the state's elite programs.
"Servite was one of the top teams in the division. We predicted that whoever won between us and Servite would go on to win the whole thing," Sandoval said. "We knew it was going to be a tough opponent, and the boys just came out and did their thing and won the game."
Individual performances fueled the team's success. Senior midfielder Deacon Miller, a four-year varsity player, finished with 38 assists in 24 games — the most in the nation. Castro, a junior forward, led the attack with 26 goals and 15 assists in 22 games.
Sandoval, a 2016 Samohi graduate now in his fourth year as head coach, credited the senior class with establishing the program's identity.
"This senior class held not only themselves accountable but everyone around them as well," Sandoval said. "It takes a special level of commitment and dedication to show up every day for four years and truly enjoy the process. The camaraderie between the senior class and the underclassmen was something special and ensured everyone had an important role throughout the season. This group felt more like a family — players doing what they love alongside people they have grown up with."
The team's preparation philosophy proved essential to their postseason run.
"Our biggest challenge was ourselves," Sandoval said. "From the start of the season, our mentality was that our training sessions needed to be harder than any game we would play throughout the year. That mindset helped prepare the group for the pressure and intensity of the biggest moments."
The loss to Mater Dei ended the Vikings' state championship aspirations but did little to diminish what the team accomplished.
"Our loss to Mater Dei was bittersweet. It was also a testament to the boys and the work they have put in to elevate our program alongside some of the most prestigious programs in the state and the country," Sandoval said. "Seeing our school crest competing in those big matches was very special, and I'm extremely proud of the group."
The Vikings will graduate 11 seniors but return 18 players for next season.
"The loss in the State Regional Quarterfinals didn't define the season," Sandoval said. "The hardest part for the boys was simply knowing there was no tomorrow — no more opportunities to step on the field together."